Fascist Dictatorships in
Italy and Germany
Chapter 19 Section 4
The Rise of Fascism in Italy
• Italy  Constitutional Monarchy
–Trouble transitioning after WWI.
• Benito Mussolini – extreme
nationalist
–Created Fascist Party
• Fascism – doctrine (bundle of rods bound
tightly, symbolizes authority of
government).
The Rise of Fascism in Italy
(cont.)
• Fascist doctrine
–Dictatorship/totalitarianism
–Strongly nationalistic and
militaristic
–Anti-communism and democracy
–Upper class appeal
• Maintain social classes
The Rise of Fascism in Italy
(cont.)
• Followers  nationalists, WWI
soldiers, eventually shopkeepers,
wealthy landowners. ($)
• Used anti-communism to gain
support.
–Protection of private property &
middle class.
Mussolini’s Rise to Power
• Violent campaign
• Black Shirts  used intimidation
and force.
–Oct. 1922 – met in Rome (defend
against communist revolution)
• Parliament resigned
• King appoints Mussolini premier (head of
coalition government.)
Mussolini’s Rise to Power
• Mussolini’s Goal
– Destroy democracy, create dictatorship
• Appointed fascists to official positions
• Fascists won election 1924
– 1925 Mussolini – “head of the government”
– King – no power, stayed king
• Mussolini
– Controlled Ministry of War, police.
Mussolini’s Rise to Power
• In power:
– Disbanded opposing political parties
– NO Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the
Press, NO trial by jury
– Outlawed strikes
– Secret Police (spies)
• Italy  police state.
Mussolini’s Rise to Power
• Corporatist state – economic
activity determined
representation
– Agriculture, commerce, manufacturing,
transportation
• 1934  22 corporations formed
– Work for the benefit of the government
– Govt establish wages, hrs., conditions
Germany
The Weimar Republic
• Became Weimar Republic in 1919.
–Citizens angry because they signed the
Treaty of Versailles – traitors.
–High unemployment
–Inflation (no #’s)
–Adolf Hitler – used frustrations to gain
support for his political party - Nazis
The Nazis and Hitler
• Nazi Party (National Socialist German
Workers’ Party).
–Nationalistic, anti-Semitic,
anticommunist.
–Promise- protection from communism.
–Wealthy supporters
The Nazis and Hitler (cont.)
• 1921 Hitler – head of Nazi Party
–Imprisoned for uprising (Beer Hall
Putsch)
• Wrote Mein Kampf (“my struggle”)
–Spirit of Nazi movement.
–Plan – racial purity – execute all Jews.
–1927  active discrimination of Jews
increased in violence.
The Nazis and Hitler (cont).
• Popular speech giver.
–Promises:
• Repeal Treaty of Versailles
• Restore military power
• Recover lost territory
• Build a “Greater Germany”
• Racial purification
The Nazis in Power
• 1925  25,000 members by 1929 
180,000 members
• Bad economy  Nazi Party supporters
in the 1930 election.
–1932  230 seats in Reichstag (German
parliament), more than any other party.
• 1933 – Hitler appointed chancellor
The Nazis in Power (cont.)
• Used scare tactics to frighten Reichstag
 made himself dictator.
– der Führer (“the leader”)
• Germany – police state
– Banned labor unions, censored newspapers,
eliminated other political parties.
– Gestapo – secret police force – lots of
power
The Nazis in Power (cont.)
• Persecution of “inferior races”
• Jews – forced to live in ghettos (separate
neighborhoods)
• Jews – had to wear Star of David
– Political opponents sent to concentration
camps.
– Concentration Camps – initially work camps/
isolate people.
• Later extermination of millions of Jews
The Nazis in Power (cont.)
• Promise – revive economy
• Called his rule Third Reich (third empire)
• Said it would last 1,000 yrs.
– 1930’s secretly rebuild military
– Early 1936 – sent troops to Rhineland
(violation of Treaty of Versailles.)
• No one reacted – not worth war
– Fall 1936 allied with Mussolini
• Rome-Berlin Axis